Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)

I contrast the Government's actions with its words on two issues. When it came into power, the Government handed over political and economic clout where it should have retained it and in another area it retained political power where it should have handed it over. It handed it over on the issue of the EU and the IMF, on which we have sacrificed our sovereignty. However, it retained it where it promised it would hand it over, which is on the issue of political patronage.

The promises made by both parties in power during the general election campaign about an end to cronyism completely evaporated in the programme for Government. I do not know why they evaporated, but they did and we need an explanation. Recent reports indicate that the spoils of war have just moved from this side of the House to the other and there has been little change. Twenty recent appointments to semi-State bodies have been given to people closely linked to Fine Gael and Labour. Five out of six judges have similar links and it is no coincidence. It is also no coincidence, having been a Member of the Houses for some time, that I know an enormous number of the people who have been appointed, not because of their merit or the commercial atmosphere but because they have political connections which involve them in interactions with me and other Members of the Houses.

The system set up by the Government, which was to encourage and invite public applications for appointment to semi-State bodies, appears at this stage to be a sham because the Minister in charge has the power to make an appointment and does not have to take any notice of the applications or recommendations made to him or her.

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